LETTER: State should not fund private schools

I am opposed to spending tax dollars to finance private schools, especially when these schools are providing religious education. The first reason for this opposition is based on the separation of church and state.

The problems inherent in combining religious education with tax dollars are on the historical persecution of religious beliefs in Europe. There were many people who came to this country to escape religious harassment. If tax dollars are used for religious education, it invites the state to be involved in controversies over the kind of religious education provided. This could lead to state regulation and judgment of religious beliefs. Frankly, I'm very surprised anyone of any religious background would want to step foot on that treacherous path.

The second reason is that this country is open to a wide variety of religious beliefs. What would prevent an extremist religious group from teaching a religiously based destructive doctrine? Would our tax dollars be used to teach something like Jihad, for instance? This should raise all kinds of red flags.

Using tax dollars to finance vouchers for parents to send their children to any school of their choice would create additional levels of public education. The educational system now in place has many problems attibutable to such issues as poverty and lack of parental involvement, which need to be addressed to make education effective for all children. I think time and tax dollars would be better spent on solving these problems instead of creating a new arena for future problems.

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LETTER: State should not fund private schools

I am opposed to spending tax dollars to finance private schools, especially when these schools are providing religious education. The first reason for this opposition is based on the separation of

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